Water cycle



Apr-i127, 1943.

J. GALKIN I WATER CYCLE S Sheets-Sheet JOSEPH GALK IN I, INVENTORATTORNEY Filed 001;. 8, 1941 April 27, 1943.

' J. GALKIN' WATER CYCLE" v Filed Oct. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i1 11m!13 '1 Jv JO SEPH GA LKIN INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. GALKIN WATER CYCLE April27, 1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1941 JOSEPH GALKIN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER CYCLE JosephGalkin, New York, N. Y.

Application October 8, 1941, Serial No. 414,175

4 Claims.

This invention relates to water vehicles, and particularly to the typeadapted to support and float the occupant and to be propelled with thefeet and steered with the hands by the occupant in the manner of abicycle.

An object of this invention is to provide a water vehicle comprising apair of spaced-apart Water buoyant members such as boards, and a seatcarried thereby at a considerably lower elevation, whereby the occupantis submerged up to the chest, in combination with mean whereby theoccupant may simultaneously propel and steer the water vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water vehicle havingmeans for driving the vehicle forward or backward or to cause it to turnas upon a pivot for controlling the direction of travel with ease.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paddle wheel having itsupper half covered by a casing, and only the lower half of the paddlewheel will actuate the water and move the water vehicle or water cycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide water buoyant membersdesigned so that their center of buoyancy is close to the center of loaddistribution as defined by the body of the occupant.

Another object of this invention is to provide sideways foldable waterbuoyant members so that the water cycle may be folded into compact formfor carrying it to and from the water.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will behereinafter more particularly described, and the combination andarrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inwhich:

Figure l is a plan view of a water cycle constructed in accordance withthis invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the water cycle, showing the manner ofpropelling the device.

Figure 3 is a front view of the device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, the section being takenas on line 4--4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified water cycle, showing sidewaysfoldable water buoyant members.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the foldable water cycle shown in Figure 5.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 indicatesa water cycle comprising two water buoyant members [I which arepreferably made of wood and are positioned in considerably spaced-apartrelation.

At the forward part Of the water buoyant members H is a channel-shapedmember l2 which interconnects the said water buoyant members I l inunitary relation. At the rearward part of the members H is a deepchannel-shaped member [3 which interconnects the said water buoyantmembers in unitary relation.

A brace It integral with the rear interconnecting member i 3 carries aseat l5 which is suspended below the Water buoyant members. As bestshown in Figure 1, it will be seen that thecenter of buoyancy of thewater buoyant members H is positioned close to the seat i5 or center ofload distribution as defined by the body of the occupant of the watercycle so as to maintain the water buoyant members in horizontalposition.

A paddle wheel I6 is rotatably mounted on a shaft ll passing throughside plates ill of a circular casing H9. The upper portion of the casingl9 has an integral semi-circular cover '20 which is closely spaced fromthe periphery of the upper half of the paddle wheel.

The cover 20 is secured at its upper face to a post 2| disposed within abearing 22 fixed to the brace I4 and a bearing 23 fixed to theinterconnecting member l2.

Handle bars 25 fixed to the upper end of the post 2| serve for pivotingthe paddle wheel Hi to the right or left. Paddle cranks 26 secured tothe shaft I! serve for actuating the paddle wheel and propelling thewater cycle. The occupant may thus use the padle bars 25 and the paddlecranks 26 to simultaneously steer and propel the water vehicle in themanner of a bicycle.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modified water cycle 30 in which the waterbuoyant members II are pivotally mounted on hinges 3| having theirpintles positioned at the level of the web plate of the forwardinterconnecting member 12, which is I-shaped.

In Figures 5 and 6, the buoyant members II are swung downwardly intoinoperative position. In this position, the water cycle is of smalloverall width which permits its being carried under the arm of the userfor transportationto and from the water.

The rearward portion of the buoyant members II is interconnected by adeep and substantially U-shaped member 32 which extends down to thelowest level of the paddle wheel casing l9 to permit the user to stepinto the water cycle 30 directly to the seat l and without raising hisfeet above the usual walking position.

The buoyant members shown in Figures 5 and 6, have stud bolts 33projecting therefrom and positioned in alinement with open recesses 34in the interconnecting members l2 and 32. When the buoyant members I lare raised to horizontal operative position, the stud bolts 33 becomeengaged in the recesses 34, and wing nuts 35 serve to look the buoyantmembers in horizontal position.

As best shown in Figure 6, a post 35 interposed between the seat l5 andthe bottom of the interconnecting member 32 transmits the load of theoccupant to the member 32 and through this member to the water buoyantmembers I I without straining the brace M.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustratedthe preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood thatvarious changes and modifications can be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a water cycle of the class described, a pair of spaced-apartbuoyant members, means for interconnecting said buoyant members, a seatcarried by said interconnecting means and suspended below said buoyantmembers, a paddle wheel suspended from said interconnecting means andbeing submerged, a casing covering the upper half of said paddle wheel,and means for pivoting said paddle wheel to simultaneously propel andsteer said water cycle.

2. In a water cycle of the class described, a

pair of spaced-apart Water buoyant members,

the upper half of said paddle wheel, and means for pivoting said paddlewheel to simultaneously propel and steer said water cycle.

3. In a water cycle of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart waterbuoyant members, means for interconnecting said water buoyant members, aseat carried by said interconnecting means and suspended below saidwater buoyant members, the center of buoyancy of said water buoyantmembers being positioned close to the center of load distribution asdefined by the body of the occupant of said water cycle, a paddle wheelsuspended from said interconnecting means and being submerged, asemi-circular ing said paddle wheel to simultaneously propel members, aseat carried by said interconnecting means and suspended below saidwater buoyant members, the center of buoyancy of said water buoyantmembers being positioned close to the center of load distribution asdefined by the body of the occupant of said water cycle, a paddle wheelsuspended from said interconnecting means and being submerged, a casingcovering and steer said water cycle, said water buoyant members beinghorizontally mounted in hinged relation with said interconnetcingmembers to permit folding said water buoyant members from operativehorizontal position to vertical inoperative position.

4. In a water cycle having submerged means for sitting in an uprightposition, a pair of spaced-apart foldable water buoyant members, meansfor interconnecting said buoyant members substantially intermediatetheir ends, one of said interconnecting means extending considerablydownwardly and having a seat secured thereto, a vertically positionedpost having handle bars at its upper end and being pivotally mounted inthe other of said interconnecting means, a foot operated propellingmechanism secured to the lower end portion of said pivotal post, wherebysaid post is adapted for swinging said propelling mechanism to causesaid mechanism to simultaneously propel and steer said water cycle, saidbuoyant members being mounted in hinged relation with saidinterconnecting means to permit folding said buoyant members fromoperative horizontal position to vertical inoperative position, saidbuoyant members being in unitary relation with said water cycle ineither of said positions.

JOSEPH GALKIN.

